Forbidden Love

Chapter 3

Maya

"Anna!" I gasped, tears freely falling from my eyes as I didn't even try to hold them back. "I should've noticed the signs! They were right there in front of my face. How could I have been so stupid?"

"Hey" she whispered, tearing my hands away from my head as my fingers already started to claw at my scalp, signalling the rise of a panic attack. "I've got you." her angelic voice whispered in my ear as she held me in her arms.

Anna was being abused. The signs were all there. The bruises she hid with the lame excuse of falling off her bike that I bought. The jumpiness at loud noises which I took lightly as I have it because of anxiety. Her absence from all our usual 'rituals', Wednesday-movie night, walking our dogs on Sunday afternoons. Brandon was controlling her life, and I brushed of all the signs. What an amazing friend I am.

I've always had an edgy feeling towards Brandon. I was very aware of his anger issues but I never thought he would try to kill my best friend! I'll make sure that asshole gets thrown into prison if it's the last thing I do.

***
Anna

"Anna, I'm going to ask you a second time. What happened the day of the 15th?" the police officer asked impatiently in the stuffy, dark, room.

"I can't!" I sobbed, burying my face in my hands, my chest hurting at the sudden movement. "Would you like me to get someone for you?" she asked a little more gently now. "Maya" I managed to choke out just as she left the room.

She returned a few seconds later with Maya, who ran to me immediately and sat in the empty chair to my right.
The police officer, whose name was Eliza according to her badge, returned to her clear desk, except for her notepad and pen, and asked if I was ready to answer her question.

"Uhm, my boy-, ex-boyfriend used to hit me and shout at me if I didn't do exactly what he wanted." I forced out, my voice kind of shaky. Maya grabbed my hand, willing me to continue. "And, and then that one day he shouted at me again, so I decided to try and stand up to him which I guess wasn't a good choice, because he grabbed his pocket knife and, uhm, tried to kill me." I breathed out pointing to the plaster on the left side of my chest.

"I'm proud of you honey, that couldn't have been easy. There's one last thing I need to know, details about him."
"Uhm, his name is Brandon, he goes to Lakefield high-school, year 12, and he lives at 25 Akea street with his dad and stepmom." I answered, relieved that I could be done talking. "Thank you, Anna, we'll send someone to help you and your friend back to your room."

The second she left, Maya pulled me into her lap and held me until a nurse came to find us.

***
Maya

How is visiting time over already? It feels like I've only been with Anna for 15 minutes today.

When I'm with her time rushes by so quickly, and my heart skips a beat every time she looks at me or says my name. I know I need to but I can't stop myself from falling for her. She has the most beautiful green eyes with these little specs of brown, long blonde hair and this tiny dimple on her left cheek when she smiles a certain way. Literal perfection. But she's my best friend, I can't be in love with her.

***

"Ugh this is so frustrating" I shout after getting another math problem wrong. I can't focus the last few weeks. School is so lonely without Anna as I don't have many other friends and when I have a second to myself, I find myself worrying about her, which is very distracting.

I saw Brandon at school today and my one friend, Bianca, had to physically restrain me, otherwise I would've kicked the crap out of him. I've also got so much homework; I literally feel like I'm drowning in work that I don't understand. I'm going to see Anna in an hour though so that is at least something to look forward to.

If Anna recovers well enough, she should be released this weekend, so I hope she does exactly what they tell her to so she can recover and get out of there.

I can't wait to have my best friend back.